The beauty of the US is that almost every major city is within a 2–4 hour drive of somewhere spectacular. These are the weekend escapes that consistently deliver — curated by region.

Northeast

Acadia National Park, Maine (from Boston: 5 hrs)

Bar Harbor and Acadia are best in early October when the crowds thin, the foliage peaks, and the lobster rolls are still abundant. Cadillac Mountain at sunrise is one of the most beautiful moments in New England travel.

Hudson Valley, New York (from NYC: 90 min)

Art galleries, farm-to-table restaurants, apple orchards in fall, and some of the best inn stays in the Northeast. Rhinebeck and Hudson are the anchor towns; the surrounding countryside has dozens of small farms and vineyards.

Southeast

Asheville, North Carolina (from Charlotte: 2 hrs)

Asheville consistently tops "best small city" lists for good reason. The arts scene, the Blue Ridge Mountains access, the brewery culture, and the genuine warmth of the town make it one of the best weekend destinations east of the Mississippi.

Savannah, Georgia (from Atlanta: 4 hrs)

The most beautiful city in the American South. Savannah's grid of Spanish moss-draped squares, cobblestoned streets, and antebellum architecture is genuinely extraordinary. The Forsyth Park area has excellent restaurants and bars.

Southwest

Sedona, Arizona (from Phoenix: 2 hrs)

The red rock formations around Sedona are among the most dramatic landscapes in North America. Best visited in March–May or September–October to avoid extreme heat. Cathedral Rock at sunset is legitimately one of the most photogenic spots in the country.

White Sands, New Mexico (from El Paso: 1.5 hrs)

An alien landscape of pure white gypsum dunes that looks unlike anywhere else on Earth. Sunrise and sunset turn the white sand pink and gold. Not crowded, not expensive, not Instagram-famous enough — yet.

West Coast

Big Sur, California (from LA: 5 hrs)

The stretch of California Highway 1 between San Simeon and Carmel is one of the world's great drives. McWay Falls, Pfeiffer Beach, and the pull-offs along the cliff edge are reward enough for the drive.

Olympic Peninsula, Washington (from Seattle: 2 hrs)

Olympic National Park contains four distinct ecosystems — glaciated peaks, temperate rainforest, wild Pacific coastline, and lowland forest — within a relatively compact area. The Hoh Rain Forest is genuinely otherworldly.

  • Best Fall Weekend TripAcadia or Hudson Valley
  • Best Year-Round City BreakAsheville or Savannah
  • Best Desert EscapeSedona or White Sands
  • Best West Coast Scenic DriveBig Sur (Highway 1)
  • Best National Park WeekendOlympic Peninsula or Acadia